Indiana. Drug Threat Assessment. National Drug Intelligence Center U.S. Department of Justice ARCHIVED. April January 1999

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1 January 1999 April 2001 Indiana Drug Threat Assessment U.S. Department of Justice

2 U.S. Department of Justice Product No S0382IN-001 April Washington Street, 5th Floor Johnstown, PA (814)

3 Preface This report is a strategic assessment that addresses the status and outlook of the drug threat in Indiana. Analytical judgment determined the threat posed by each drug type or category, taking into account the most current quantitative and qualitative information on availability, demand, production or cultivation, transportation, and distribution, as well as the effects of a particular drug on abusers and society as a whole. While NDIC sought to incorporate the latest available information, a time lag often exists between collection and publication of data, particularly demand-related data sets. NDIC anticipates that this drug threat assessment will be useful to policymakers, law enforcement personnel, and treatment providers at the federal, state, and local levels because it draws upon a broad range of information sources to describe and analyze the drug threat in Indiana. Cover Photo Stockbyte

4 Executive Summary Indiana, particularly the Lake County area, is an ideal drug transportation and distribution center because of its proximity to Chicago and varied transportation infrastructure. Private vehicles, commercial trucks, package delivery services, air parcel delivery services or couriers, and railways are the most common means used to transport drugs through the Lake County area. Mexican drug trafficking organizations transport cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and heroin and independent criminal groups distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Organized street gangs such as the Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords, and Latin Kings, as well as local, independent gangs not affiliated with Chicago, control the retail distribution and sale of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. Gang-related violent crime, while declining in some urban areas, is increasing in suburban and rural areas as gangs expand their drug markets. Powdered cocaine and marijuana pose the greatest threats to Indiana. Crack cocaine is a threat, but is not as widespread as powdered cocaine and marijuana. Indiana police and sheriff s departments report increases in cocaine and marijuana-related investigations, arrests, and seizures. Statistics also indicate increases in cocaine and marijuana abuse among arrestees. The violent criminal activity associated with methamphetamine may rival or exceed that associated with crack cocaine. Methamphetamine abusers behave unpredictably, and their actions endanger law enforcement and contribute to an increase in domestic violence. Methamphetamine is transported from the Southwest Border, California, Chicago, as well as southern Illinois to the Southern District, and most recently, the Northern District of Indiana. Methamphetamine availability is increasing in urban areas where the traditional drug of choice has been crack cocaine primarily because of demand for the less expensive, longer euphoric effect associated with methamphetamine. Cannabis cultivation is an escalating problem and the number of local indoor and outdoor grow operations is increasing. Indiana law enforcement officials report that approximately percent of the marijuana available throughout the state is grown locally. iii

5 Heroin abuse is increasing, especially in the Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. Mexican drug trafficking organizations are increasing their operations within Indiana, spreading as far east as Fort Wayne and as far south as Indianapolis. Chicago and cities along the Southwest Border are the sources of the heroin supply in the Lake County area. MDMA and GHB use is a growing concern for authorities. MDMA availability and abuse increased in 2000 and into the early months of 2001, and GHB use was a factor in several rapes and poisonings in Indiana. The increasing popularity of these and other dangerous drugs, especially among young adults and teens attending raves, is expected to cause significant problems in the state, especially in college towns. iv

6 Table of Contents Executive Summary iii Overview Cocaine Abuse Availability Violence Production Transportation Distribution Methamphetamine Abuse Availability Violence Production Transportation Distribution Marijuana Abuse Availability Violence Production Transportation Distribution Heroin Abuse Availability Violence Production Transportation Distribution Other Dangerous Drugs Abuse Availability Violence Production Transportation Distribution Outlook Sources v

7 Indiana. vi

8 April 2001 Overview Indiana is the fourteenth largest state in the nation with a population of 5.9 million people. The northern belt along Lake Michigan is industrialized, while the central and southern areas support a rural, agricultural lifestyle. All the interstates in Indiana cross through Indianapolis, the state s largest city. Northwestern Indiana, specifically the area covered by the Lake County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), is a distribution center for drugs transported throughout Indiana. Lake County, Indiana s second largest county, is located just 30 miles east of Chicago and consists of approximately 500 square miles. The county s population of 486,308 comprises more than 80 ethnic cultures. The Lake County HIDTA is divided into three areas: the urban, northern area (including Gary, Hammond, and East Chicago); the suburban, central area; and the rural, southern area. The transportation infrastructure of Lake County is varied, consisting of passenger and commercial railroad lines (there are large rail yards in Gary, Hammond, and Munster), the Port of Indiana, several truck depots, and two airports, including the recently expanded Gary Airport. Drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) take advantage of this infrastructure and use the Lake County area as a transshipment point for drugs destined for the Midwest. Mexican DTOs use the Population (1999) U.S. ranking Median income (1999) Unemployment rate (1999) Land area Shoreline Capital Principal cities Fast Facts Indiana 5.9 million 14th $40,929 3% Number of counties 92 Principal industries 36,291 square miles 53 miles Indianapolis Fort Wayne, Gary, Evansville, South Bend Agriculture, production, tourism area to store and distribute bulk quantities of cocaine, marijuana, and heroin. Private and rented vehicles and commercial trucks are the most common means used to transport drugs, although package delivery services, air parcel delivery services or couriers, and railways 1

9 also are used. Drug shipments have an excellent chance of reaching a destination because of the volume of private vehicles, trucks, parcels, railcars, and ships that transit the area every day. Indianapolis is a secondary distribution center for the state. Indianapolis is one of the country s leading grain markets and a major livestock and meat processing center. Both I 70, a major eastwest route spanning two-thirds of the country, and I 65, the Lake Michigan-Gulf of Mexico link, pass directly through downtown, providing DTOs easy access to the city as well as to other areas of the state. Furthermore, I 69 connects Indianapolis to central and southern Michigan, providing a possible conduit for drug transportation throughout the Great Lakes Region. Indianapolis is also ranked sixteenth in the world for air cargo shipped with 1,107,985 tons per year. The nature of the drug problem in Indiana varies throughout the state. The primary drug problems in northern and central Indiana are the availability, distribution, and abuse of powdered and crack cocaine. In the central and southern areas, a dramatic increase in the number of methamphetamine laboratories has resulted in increased methamphetamine abuse. Heroin is more readily available in the state s urban areas, and while marijuana is the most commonly abused drug across Indiana, the threat posed by marijuana abuse has not reached the level posed by powdered cocaine. Chart 1. Federal Sentences by Drug Type, FY1998 Source: U.S. Sentencing Commission. Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials report that Mexican DTOs are the primary transporters of cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin to Indiana. They obtain supplies directly from Mexico or via California, Florida, and Texas. African American and independent Caucasian criminal groups also transport drugs to Indiana. Street gangs, including organized gangs such as the Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords, and Latin Kings, as well as local independents dominate street-level distribution of drugs in the Northern District, whereas local or independent street gangs are a more dominant factor in drug distribution throughout the Southern District. The presence of gangs or gang-related activity appears to be increasing. Out of 190 agencies surveyed in 1999 by the Indiana State Police, 87 reported criminal gang activity and another 35 responses suggested The Gangster Disciples is the largest Chicago-based street gang. Members are primarily African American. The gang has been in existence since the early 1960s and its organizational structure is similar to that of a corporation. In Indiana, members sell drugs primarily in low-income, urban areas. The Gangster Disciples has been identified in over 40 states. The Gangster Disciples has been in a state of flux because law enforcement authorities have targeted the group in recent years. Investigations have resulted in indictments and convictions of almost 40 leaders, including Larry Hoover, who had served as Chairman of the Board since the early 1970s. The Vice Lords is the oldest street gang in Chicago. Its members are primarily African American. The Vice Lords is divided among three major factions: the Conservative Vice Lords, Traveling Vice Lords, and Four Corner Hustlers. Each faction has its own members and leaders but its organization is more loosely structured than that of the Gangster Disciples. The Latin Kings, also known as the Almighty Latin King Nation, is a primarily Hispanic street gang. It is composed of more than 70 factions operating under an overall leadership structure. The Latin Kings has expanded its drug trafficking to other parts of the state and nationwide. 2

10 gang activity was present. The Gangster disciples had the most significant increase in gang migration; in 1999, officials in 32 counties, 13 more than reported in 1998, identified the presence of Gangster Disciples or one of its many factions in their areas. Officials in 10 more counties than reported in 1998 identified members of the Latin Kings in their areas. Respondents to the 1999 survey identified members of the Vice Lords in 35 Indiana counties. A rise in juvenile, gang-related violence over the past 10 years can be attributed, in part, to the rise in gang-related drug distribution. Juvenile drug-related crimes increased in Most of the Indiana county sheriff s and police departments responding to the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) National Drug Threat Survey 2000, as well as those interviewed by telephone, report that, on average, 40 percent of the drug-related crime in their areas is committed by juveniles. In Gary, an estimated primarily juvenile street gangs openly compete for control of more than 300 crack houses. In Indianapolis, an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 gang members compete for control of the drug market in the city. Chart 2. Juveniles Arrested for Drug Crimes in Indiana, Number 2,500 2,000 1,500 1, Year Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Report, Despite increased drug-related activity by juvenile gang members, there has been an overall decline in drug abuse among Indiana youth. The use of marijuana, cocaine, and prescription drugs all decreased from 1998 to 1999, particularly among middle school students. However, abuse levels reported by Indiana youth still exceed the national average for most drugs. Drug abuse is a significant health, social, public safety, and economic problem in Indiana. Approximately 30,000 rural Indiana residents required publicly funded substance abuse treatment in According to the Prevention Needs Assessment conducted by the Institute for Drug Abuse Prevention, in 1996 more than 27,000 pregnant women in rural Indiana sought support in substance abuse prevention programs. In the three rural counties included in the assessment, 5.6 percent of newborns tested positive for drugs. Healthcare and disease statistics also suggest significant drug abuse in Indiana. There has been an increase in the number of HIV diagnoses and AIDSrelated deaths associated with the sharing of needles among drug abusers. Rural counties accounted for 16 percent of the new drug-related HIV and AIDS cases in 1997, up from 8 percent in Of the 86 new HIV cases reported in rural Indiana in 1997, 21 percent involved injection drug use. Drug use is widespread among arrestees in Indiana, regardless of the offense. According to the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) program, 74 percent of adult arrestees in Indianapolis tested positive for the use of illegal drugs, compared with 67 percent nationwide. The number of juvenile arrestees in urban and rural areas testing positive for drug use is also high. According to the Indiana Youth Institute, the number of juveniles arrested on drug charges statewide increased from 667 in 1990 to 3,159 in In 1999, the Indiana Department of Corrections reported that approximately 80 percent of state prisoners had a significant abuse history. The Department s Reception and Diagnostic Center staff and drug abuse counselors assigned to the prison system conservatively suggest that drug abuse is a direct causative factor in up to 50 percent of criminal offenses. The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute also reports a significant history of drug abuse among 70 to 80 percent of criminal offenders and estimates that more than 25 percent of adult males are incarcerated for crimes directly related to drugs or alcohol. The Marion County Superior Court reports that of the nearly 11,000 felony cases filed in 1998, 3

11 19 percent were drug-related. Drugs were associated with 62 percent of assaults, 52 percent of child abuse incidents, 68 percent of manslaughter charges, and 49 percent of murders. Drug abuse among prison inmates is also widespread. A study by the Indiana Division of Mental Health estimates that 61 percent an estimated 15,000 in 1996 of inmates are dependent on alcohol or other drugs. According to the same study, a large number of juvenile detainees abuse drugs: 61 percent abused marijuana and 27 percent abused other drugs. Officials estimate that among state prison inmates who abuse drugs, about half began using them by age 15. Cocaine The availability of powdered cocaine and the subsequent conversion, distribution, and abuse of crack cocaine are significant drug threats in Indiana. Mexican DTOs are the primary transporters and wholesale distributors of powdered cocaine. Other criminal groups or individuals with family and business ties to the Southwest Chart 3. Adults Arrested for Drug Crimes in Indiana, ,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2, Year Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Report, Number Border area also transport, store, and distribute powdered cocaine. African American and Hispanic street gangs as well as independent dealers control crack cocaine retail distribution. Because of the connection with street gangs, crack cocaine is the drug most often associated with violent crime throughout the state. Abuse Overall, abuse of crack cocaine is increasing in Indiana, but at a slower rate than in previous years. The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana reports that crack cocaine continues to dominate the drug market in the district and that the abuse rate is equally formidable. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana reports that abuse of crack cocaine increased in ADAM statistics show an 8.5 percent increase in arrestees testing positive for cocaine abuse, from 30 percent in 1997 to 35 percent in Cocaine abuse among youth, however, appears to be declining. According to the 1999 Indiana University Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use by Indiana Children and Adolescents study conducted by the Indiana Prevention Resource Center, cocaine abuse decreased among youth in grades 7 through 12. Availability The availability of powdered and crack cocaine is increasing in Indiana. Both forms of cocaine are readily available in urban areas and are beginning to spread to smaller communities and rural areas. The Indianapolis Drug Enforcement Administration s (DEA) District Office reports that powdered cocaine is available throughout the northern part of the state and crack 4

12 cocaine is prevalent in Gary, South Bend, and Fort Wayne. The DEA also reports that crack cocaine is available in Indianapolis and rural southern Indiana. Most of the police departments in smaller cities such as Evansville, Terre Haute, and Bloomington and sheriff s offices in rural counties like St. Joseph, Allen, Delaware, and Vanderburgh report an increase in powdered and crack cocaine availability. The Fort Wayne Police Department seized 1,678 grams of cocaine in 1998 and 1,992 grams in 1999, an 18 percent increase. All Indiana law enforcement officials responding to the 2000 National Drug Threat Survey report increases in powdered and crack cocaine-related investigations, arrests, and seizures. The Allen and Delaware County Sheriff s Departments and the South Bend Police Department all report that crack-related investigations, arrests, and seizures increased in U.S. Customs Service (USCS) cocaine seizure events in Indianapolis rose 150 percent, from 6 in 1998 to 15 in Powdered cocaine samples examined by the Indiana State Crime Laboratory increased 22 percent, from 1,245 in 1998 to 1,522 in 1999, while crack cocaine submissions increased 13 percent, from 2,012 to 2,273. According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, arrests for crack cocaine offenses in Indiana rose 77 percent, from 35 in 1995 to 62 in Price and purity statistics indicate an increase in powdered and crack cocaine availability in Indiana. Powdered and crack cocaine purity levels generally range from 80 to 95 percent, and though relatively stable, cocaine prices decreased slightly from $90 to $85 per gram (powder) and from $25 to $20 per rock (crack) between 1995 and The Evansville Police Department reports that powdered cocaine seized in the city in 1999 was routinely 80 percent pure and that, since then, purity levels have increased. Crack purity in Evansville averages 85 to 90 percent. The Marion County Sheriff s Department reports that it routinely seizes cocaine with an average purity of 85 percent, adding that, increasingly, seized cocaine is of even higher purity and in greater quantities. The Vanderburgh County Sheriff s Department reports that seizures have increased and that cocaine prices have decreased, indicating an increase in cocaine supply. The DEA Chicago Field Division indicates that the availability of powdered and crack cocaine increased in Indiana during the first quarter of Violence Violent criminal activity related to the gang distribution of crack cocaine is a significant problem throughout Indiana, especially in urban areas. Three of the 25 U.S. areas with the highest number of gun-related crimes are located in northwestern Indiana, where street gangs, including the Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords, and Latin Kings, compete for control of the crack cocaine market. Gary, Indiana, was identified as the homicide capital of the United States on numerous occasions during the late 1980s and early 1990s, primarily because of the number of reports of gang warfare. There was one murder per 970 people in Gary in 1997 and more than 70 percent of those murders were directly related to drug distribution or drug abuse. The Lake County HIDTA identifies more than 300 crack houses in the urban areas within its area of responsibility, and the accessibility of these crack houses as well as openair drug markets is aggravated by the accessibility of guns. In January 1999, a 6-year-old boy in a car seat was shot and killed after his father stole $20 worth of crack cocaine from an Indianapolis drug dealer. The father used the boy and another child as human shields as he drove away from the angry drug dealer. Drug-related homicides in other areas of Northern Indiana are increasing as gang members migrate and expand operations. For 5

13 example, in 1999, several homicides in Kokomo, Indiana, were the result of drug-related gun battles. Smaller cities and towns such as Kokomo are attracting street gangs because drug prices in small towns are generally higher than in urban areas. Homicides in the Southern District have decreased in 2000 and This may be due in part to the Indianapolis Violence Reduction Partnership a program designed to reduce violence in the city and possibly to the control of the retail drug market by local and independent street gangs and not the more organized and violent Chicago-based street gangs. Crack cocaine distributors use armed countersurveillance personnel, fortified entrances, canines, and booby traps to secure their drug operations, significantly increasing the threat to law enforcement officers. The South Bend Police Department reports that crack retail distributors and abusers are committing an increasing number of robberies, homicides, larcenies, and burglaries. In nearby La Porte, two men committed thefts and armed robberies to support their crack habit. Police say both men drove to Gary with the stolen money to buy crack cocaine. The Delaware County Sheriff s Department reports that the crack trade has resulted in an increase in weapons violations, shooting incidents, and random acts of violence. The Indianapolis Police and Marion County Sheriff s Departments report that although the problems associated with crack distribution and consumption affected their areas later than most other cities, they are now experiencing an increase in violent criminal activity, including homicides. Production Street gangs normally transport powdered cocaine and convert it to crack cocaine in urban areas. Local conversion reduces the chance of being apprehended with crack cocaine in transit and helps traffickers avoid the stiffer criminal penalties associated with its possession. The conversion normally takes place in the homes of gang members or in stash houses. Most Indiana law enforcement officials responding to the 2000 National Drug Threat Survey report that powdered cocaine is converted to crack cocaine in their areas. The Fort Wayne and South Bend Police Departments report that approximately 80 percent of the powdered cocaine shipped into their areas is converted to crack cocaine, while the Indianapolis and Evansville Police Departments report that at least 90 percent of the powdered cocaine in their areas is converted locally. A Vigo County Drug Task Force detective reports that gangs transport bulk powdered cocaine and convert it into crack cocaine locally for retail distribution, and the Fort Wayne Police Department specifically identifies Mexican criminal groups and independent gangs as involved in crack conversion. Transportation Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, including the Fort Wayne and South Bend Police Departments and the Allen and Marion County Sheriff s Departments, report that Mexican DTOs are the primary cocaine transporters in Indiana. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) states that Mexican DTOs are an ever-increasing threat throughout the state, but particularly in the Indianapolis/Marion County metropolitan area. In 1999, five Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigations targeted Mexican DTOs transporting cocaine from the Southwest Border area to Indiana. One investigation targeted a Mexican cocaine trafficking group based in Brownsville, Texas, which shipped thousands of kilograms of cocaine into the United States on boats and in vehicles. During the first quarter of 2000, the DEA Merrillville Resident 6

14 Office seized 442 kilograms of powdered cocaine from a Mexican DTO. The Vicente Carrillo-Fuentes organization operating along the Juarez, Mexico El Paso, Texas, border is the primary supplier of cocaine to the Great Lakes Region. Primarily a transportation organization, the Carrillo- Fuentes organization directs an extensive air and land network, orchestrating large-scale smuggling of cocaine from South and Central America to the United States via Mexico. Independent Caucasian groups, street gangs, and to a lesser extent, outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs) also transport powdered cocaine into Indiana, according to state and local law enforcement officials. An Allen County gang investigator reports that the Gangster Disciples and Vice Lords transport cocaine from Chicago and that independent Caucasian dealers and OMGs also transport cocaine into the area. A Gary narcotics detective reports that the Gangster Disciples and the Vice Lords use private vehicles to transport cocaine, while a South Central Narcotics Task Force prosecutor reports that the Vice Lords and a Detroit-based African American gang are the primary cocaine transporters in that area. A 1999 OCDETF investigation uncovered an Indianapolis-based transportation group shipping large quantities of cocaine from Mexico to the Southern District of Indiana for distribution throughout the United States. The group had contacts with an OMG in Indianapolis. The Outlaws Motorcycle Club is partly responsible for the proliferation of cocaine in northwest Indiana as well as Indianapolis. The Outlaws is one of the Big Four motorcycle clubs operating in the United States, and it deals mainly in cocaine. The Outlaws was formed in Joliet, Illinois, in 1959 and has approximately 60 chapters in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe. U.S. chapters account for 300 members. Cocaine transported primarily from Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Florida, and the Southwest Border area is distributed throughout the state primarily through northwestern Indiana. The Lake County HIDTA reports that Mexican DTOs transport large quantities of powdered cocaine into the area from suppliers in Illinois, Michigan, California, Florida, Texas, or directly from Mexico, and an Indianapolis police detective and the Southern District Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) report that Mexican DTOs transport cocaine into that city mostly from Texas and occasionally from Chicago. The Marion County Sheriff s Department, the South Bend and Evansville Police Departments and most authorities responding to the 2000 National Drug Threat Survey report drugs entering their areas from source areas including Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Brownsville, and Florida. Law enforcement successes have resulted in the conviction of eight men in Indianapolis on federal drug charges. The men obtained cocaine from California, Chicago, and Gary and distributed it to midlevel dealers. Also, a federal grand jury indicted 10 South Bend residents who allegedly participated in a major cocaine and crack distribution ring over 8 years. The group distributed 4,950 kilograms of cocaine in northern Indiana, southwestern Michigan, and the Chicago area. A 1999 OCDETF investigation uncovered a large-scale cocaine organization distributing multikilogram quantities in the Fort Wayne, Indiana, area. Its source of supply was located in Los Angeles. Cocaine is transported throughout Indiana in private vehicles, minivans, and recreational vehicles; tractor-trailers are used primarily for bulk shipments. A South Bend man was arrested for cocaine distribution. According to court documents, the man was transporting bulk quantities of cocaine via tractor-trailer from the McAllen, Texas, area to La Porte County. Transportation groups often use false or hidden compartments in vehicles to conceal drugs. Cocaine has been found stashed in duffel bags in the back of rented vehicles, tucked in the side panels of a minivan, taped in the tires of a new car, and hidden in a washing machine in a moving van. For example, in 2000, 7

15 Texas Department of Public Safety officials arrested seven people, mostly from northeastern Indiana, on charges of conspiracy to deliver cocaine. The seven were drivers and passengers in a car and minivan, and the cocaine was concealed in duffel bags. The Lake County HIDTA reports that organizations transport powdered cocaine on interstate highways sometimes using numerous vehicles as decoys. The Vigo County Drug Task Force reports that transportation groups use not only vehicles, but also airline passengers concealing drugs either on their person or in their luggage to transport drugs into Indiana. The Muncie Police Department reports that criminal groups use mail services to deliver powdered and crack cocaine to vacant homes where local retail groups collect the drugs for further distribution. A Vigo County Drug Task Force detective reports that statewide, African American gangs use the postal service to transport cocaine into the Terre Haute area. The Drug Task Force detective further notes that some shipments of cocaine are shipped from California through the mail services. Distribution Mexican DTOs are the primary wholesalers of powdered cocaine in Indiana. The DEA Indianapolis Resident Office and the Lake County HIDTA report that Mexican DTOs dominate wholesale cocaine distribution throughout the state and transport most of the cocaine found in northwestern Indiana. The Fort Wayne and South Bend Police Departments, as well as the Allen and Marion County Sheriff s Departments confirm that Mexican DTOs are the primary wholesalers in their areas. Associates and relatives of DTO members transport, store, and distribute powdered cocaine in northwestern Indiana. This area is a major distribution center for bulk cocaine shipments destined for Indiana. Indianapolis is a secondary distribution center for drugs shipped throughout Indiana because of the city s central location and network of highways connecting it not only to the rest of the state but to the entire region. The AUSA for the Southern District of Indiana reports that while some cocaine is transshipped from Chicago, most is shipped directly from the Southwest Border. Numerous other criminal groups distribute powdered cocaine on the wholesale level, although to a lesser extent. The Indianapolis Police Department reports that independent African American criminal groups play a significant role in wholesale cocaine distribution in the city. These groups typically transport powdered cocaine to the area, conceal it in storage facilities, and sell it to retail groups that convert it to crack cocaine. The retail groups often distribute crack in areas where the conversion takes place, but they also move the crack cocaine to other stash houses for further distribution and sales. The Chicago-based Gangster Disciples and Vice Lords, as well as the Latin Kings and other Los Angeles-based street gangs, dominate wholesale operations in Vanderburgh, Delaware, Vigo, Madison, Marion, and Evansville Counties. The Gangster Disciples and Vice Lords control cocaine distribution in Gary, and a South Central Narcotics Task Force prosecutor reports that the Vice Lords and a Detroit-based African American gang are the primary cocaine wholesalers in that jurisdiction. The Vanderburgh, Delaware, Vigo, and Madison County Sheriff s Departments report that statewide gangs such as the Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords, and Latin Kings dominate cocaine wholesale operations in their areas. Local independent dealers and the Outlaws Motorcycle Club also distribute cocaine on the wholesale level, primarily in smaller cities and rural locations. The Evansville, Allen, Delaware, and Marion County Sheriff s Departments report that Caucasian local independent dealers and the Outlaws Motorcycle Club distribute cocaine at the wholesale level in their areas. 8

16 The primary crack retail distributors in the Northern District are organized street gangs such as the Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords, and Latin Kings, as well as local independents; however, local or independent street gangs are a more dominant factor in drug distribution in the Southern District. The Lake County HIDTA reports that gangs, specifically the Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords, Latin Kings, and Renegades, control crack retail distribution in its area of responsibility. Some of the same street gangs that distribute crack cocaine also distribute powdered cocaine. For example, the Gangster Disciples controls powdered and crack cocaine retail distribution operations in Terre Haute and surrounding areas, and the Gangster Disciples, Vice Lords, and several Hispanic gangs control powdered and crack cocaine retail distribution in Fort Wayne and throughout Allen County. An Allen County investigator reports that members of the Gangster Disciples were recruiting in the suburban and rural areas outside Fort Wayne. The Bloomington Police Department, south of Indianapolis, reports that the Vice Lords travel from Gary where the Gangster Disciples and Vice Lords control all retail distribution and Chicago to sell crack. Local gangs also retail powdered and crack cocaine. The Madison County Drug Task Force reports that most retail distributors are males in their twenties; however, Caucasian distributors retail powdered cocaine, while African American distributors retail crack cocaine. Fort Wayne and Muncie detectives and the Vigo County Drug Task Force report that a mix of Caucasian and African American gangs, usually young males, retail cocaine in their areas. A South Central Narcotics Task Force prosecutor reports that a Detroit-based African American gang is the dominant crack retailer in the area, and an Indianapolis police detective reports that independent African American organizations control crack retail distribution in that city. The Fort Wayne and South Bend Police Departments and the Delaware, Marion and Vanderburgh County Sheriff s Departments report that local gangs retail drugs. A 1999 OCDETF investigation uncovered a violent gang that was distributing large quantities of powdered and crack cocaine and weapons throughout northwestern Indiana. Crack retailers from Detroit were arrested by the Anderson Police Department for operating two crack houses on the West Side of town. Another crack house in Anderson was raided resulting in the arrest of one individual from Fort Wayne and another from Detroit. Crack cocaine retail distribution locations vary throughout Indiana. Local distribution houses or crack houses are a major problem in northeastern Indiana, and crack users from suburban areas and adjacent counties travel to northeastern locations to purchase the drug. A Muncie police detective reports that cocaine retail areas are in southern and eastern Muncie, primarily in and around the city s seven housing projects. Over a 2-month period, the Muncie/Delaware County Drug Task Force raided five crack houses and three other homes belonging to independent criminal groups. An Allen County gang investigator reports that cocaine retail areas are located in the southeastern or southern quadrants of Fort Wayne. These areas are controlled by the Gangster Disciples and Vice Lords, which usually operate from large housing areas in southeastern Fort Wayne. In Terre Haute, the primary drug markets are in the center of the city, primarily in low-income housing areas. Crack retail sales are conducted throughout Bloomington, although usually from apartment complexes in the northwestern and south central areas. An Indianapolis police detective reports that retail crack sales primarily occur on the east side; however, crack is available throughout the city. In Gary, retail crack sales primarily occur in the Bronx/Concord, Glen Park, Midtown, and East Side or Valley areas. The Lake County HIDTA reports that retail distributors typically sell crack cocaine from their own homes or from abandoned houses. Crack cocaine distributors use armed countersurveillance personnel, fortified entrances, dogs, and booby traps to secure their operations, significantly increasing the threat to law enforcement. 9

17 Methamphetamine Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant that affects the central nervous system, causing body functions to accelerate. Some short-term effects include hallucinations, violent and aggressive behavior, and paranoia; long-term effects include those mentioned as well as depression. Mexican DTOs transport most methamphetamine to Indiana from California and other Southwest Border states. Methamphetamine production and abuse are expanding from southern Illinois into primarily rural counties in southwestern Indiana. Although the threat posed by methamphetamine is not as great as that posed by powdered cocaine, the substantial increase in the number of methamphetamine laboratory seizures in Indiana indicates a growing problem that may rival powdered cocaine in the future. Methamphetamine production causes serious safety and environmental concerns. Abuse Methamphetamine abuse is increasing in Indiana, particularly in Evansville, Terre Haute, and other southwestern areas. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District reports that methamphetamine abuse is spreading from rural to more urban areas like Indianapolis. Fifty percent of the drug overdoses in the Lake County HIDTA area of responsibility involved methamphetamine. Methamphetamine abuse is spread among different user groups. Some people begin using methamphetamine to lose weight, while others use it recreationally to stay energized at rave parties. Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network (MAGLOCLEN) member agencies cite a correlation between methamphetamine use and people in certain occupations, reporting high methamphetamine use among service and shift workers such as cocktail waitresses, exotic dancers, truck drivers, and trade workers. A typical methamphetamine user within the MAGLOCLEN jurisdiction is a Caucasian male, between the ages of 25 and 40, with a low to moderate income. While health officials consider methamphetamine to be a drug used mostly by adult middle-class, blue-collar Caucasians, its popularity is increasing among young people. MAGLOCLEN members report that young people are attracted to methamphetamine because they feel the drug causes heightened physical and mental performance. Methamphetamine abuse among teens in rural areas is increasing. A privately funded study conducted by the Rural Indiana Profile reports that eighth graders in rural settings are 108 percent more likely to use methamphetamine than eighth graders in urban areas. The study also reports that teens have greater access to methamphetamine than do other age groups. The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reports that lifetime methamphetamine use among twelfth graders rose nearly 6 percent in In 1992, 62 percent of twelfth graders believed trying methamphetamine once or twice posed a great risk, compared with only 53 percent in The Allen County Sheriff s Department reports that they are beginning to see younger adults, usually white males between the ages of 21 and 35, using methamphetamine. 10

18 Availability Methamphetamine availability is increasing as evidenced by increasing production, distribution, and consumption, especially in southwestern Indiana. The DEA Chicago Field Division indicates that methamphetamine is readily available significantly more so than in 1998 particularly in southwestern Indiana along the Illinois border. DEA also reports a marked increase in laboratory seizures. After studying the popularity of methamphetamine in states such as Missouri, where abuse is increasing and spreading through southern Illinois into southwestern Indiana, Indiana State Police and drug experts are predicting a continuing escalation of methamphetamine availability throughout Indiana. For example, the February 2000 arrest of a rural Hendricks County man for operating a methamphetamine laboratory was the third such arrest in the Metro West area in nearly a month and marked the fifty-fifth laboratory shut down by Indiana State Police in Seventy-nine percent of those responding to the MAGLOCLEN Methamphetamine Activity Report indicate that methamphetamine availability is increasing. The DEA Merrillville Resident Office reports that methamphetamine availability in northwestern Indiana is increasing, specifically noting an increase in methamphetamine demand. Merrillville officials believe that availability will continue to increase and become a widespread problem. The Indianapolis Police Department also reports a significant increase in methamphetamine availability. All Indiana law enforcement officials responding to the 2000 National Drug Threat Survey, as well as the Marion, Delaware, and Vanderburgh County Sheriff s Departments, report an increase in methamphetamine-related investigations, arrests, and seizures in The Fort Wayne Police Department seized more than 1,400 grams of methamphetamine in 1999, an increase over 1998 figures, and the Vigo County Drug Task Force reports that methamphetamine laboratory seizures rose from 0 in 1998, to 26 in 1999, to 40 as of July According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, arrests for methamphetamine offenses in Indiana rose 81 percent from 16 in 1995 to 29 in Methamphetamine prices decreased from $1,420 per ounce in 1995 to $1,265 in 1999, indicating increased availability. Overall, purity reached a 4-year low in 1999 most likely because of an increase in the availability of low purity under 10 percent Mexican-produced methamphetamine. The number of methamphetamine laboratories processed by the Indiana State Police forensics laboratory has doubled every year since 1994, with the exception of 1999, when they more than tripled. Source: Evansville Courier and Press, 2 January Violence The potential for methamphetamine-related violence in Indiana exists. Methamphetamine users can be violent and can endanger themselves and those around them, especially when they enter the tweaking stage. Tweaking occurs at the end of a binge when nothing, not even additional methamphetamine, will relieve the users feelings of emptiness and dysphoria. The tweaking stage is very uncomfortable for users who often take depressants to ease the unpleasant feelings and they often are irritable and prone to unpredictable behavior. The Evansville Police Department links the increase in violent acts and crimes in 1999 to methamphetamine abuse. 11

19 Production Methamphetamine production is increasing, especially in rural areas. The Indiana State Police Clandestine Laboratory Entry Team seized 128 methamphetamine laboratories in 1999 and 427 laboratories in Although the Indiana State Police have discovered laboratories in Angola and Elkhart in northern Indiana, most methamphetamine laboratories seized have been in rural farming areas south of I 70 and west of I 65, particularly along the corridor from Evansville to Bloomington. In Hazleton, an Indiana State Trooper smelled anhydrous ammonia and tracked the odor to an open garage where investigating officers found other chemicals used in methamphetamine production as well as the anhydrous ammonia. The Vigo Country Drug Task Force in Terre Haute reports that 80 percent of the methamphetamine produced in the area is used locally. The South Central Narcotics Task Force also reports that most of the methamphetamine sold in its area is produced locally. Chart 4. Methamphetamine Laboratory Seizures in Indiana, Year Source: Indiana State Police, Number An associated problem, occurring mostly in rural areas, is the increased theft of anhydrous ammonia a key ingredient in the Nazi method of methamphetamine production from farm cooperatives throughout the state, especially in Vigo County. The Nazi method is the production method used primarily in rural areas such as Vigo and Vanderburgh Counties and in the South Central Narcotics Task Force s jurisdiction; agencies in all of these areas report increases in anhydrous ammonia thefts. A Vigo County detective reports that independent methamphetamine producers are stealing and using anhydrous ammonia not only to produce their own methamphetamine, but also to sell at $500 per gallon to other producers. State Police are asking farmers to watch for thefts of anhydrous ammonia; however, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff s Department reports an increase in the number of farmers selling the chemical for profit. The former manager of a Montgomery County grain elevator faced charges that he provided anhydrous ammonia to a major production operation from late 1999 to March The Vanderburgh County Sheriff s Department reports that methamphetamine producers use fire extinguishers, PVC pipes, and jugs to store anhydrous ammonia and that they set up box labs in coolers, boxes, or other containers in the trunks of cars, in the beds of trucks, and in barns. Indiana officials report that methamphetamine also is produced in urban areas, posing heightened safety concerns because of the proximity of laboratories to the public. The Evansville Police Department reports an increase in methamphetamine laboratory seizures. In one instance, a Pike County probation officer and an Indiana State Police Trooper found ether, lithium strips, drug paraphernalia, a generator, and a small amount of methamphetamine in an Evansville home. According to police, the generator was used to produce hydrogen gas, which is a part of the methamphetamine production process. In Decatur, a man was arrested after police found a methamphetamine laboratory in his home; an environmental cleanup crew was required to remove the hazardous material. A multiagency task force raided two Lebanon, Indiana, homes and shut down a methamphetamine laboratory that police said was used to produce most of that city s drug supply. Throughout Terre Haute, methamphetamine laboratories have been found in apartments, basements, houses, and cars and trucks. 12

20 Primary Methamphetamine Production Methods Ephedrine/pseudoephedrine This method uses the precursors ephedrine/pseudoephedrine, hydriodic acid, and red phosphorus to produce d-methamphetamine. It normally results in large quantities of high-quality methamphetamine. Nazi This method uses the primary precursor ephedrine/pseudoephedrine and more exotic secondary chemicals including sodium metal and anhydrous ammonia. It produces high-quality, low-quantity d-methamphetamine. Cold cook This method uses the primary precursor ephedrine and the secondary precursors iodine and red phosphorus. The reaction is typically catalyzed either by using heat from direct sunlight or by burying the chemicals in containers in hot desert sand. It produces high-quality, low-quantity d-methamphetamine. P2P This method uses the precursors phenyl-2-propanone and aluminum to produce lower-quality methamphetamine. Local independent groups, primarily Caucasian males using the Nazi and ephedrine reduction production methods, are the primary methamphetamine producers, according to Indiana respondents to the 2000 National Drug Threat Survey. The South Central Narcotics Task Force reports that the primary producers are Caucasian males between the ages of 20 and 30, while the Vanderburgh County Sheriff s Department identifies local independents as the primary methamphetamine producers. Methamphetamine recipes available on the Internet, by word of mouth, and from out-ofstate producers, have increased local independent production. Easy access to precursor chemicals makes multiple methods of methamphetamine production possible. OMGs also produce limited amounts of methamphetamine. Although Indiana respondents to the MAGLOCLEN survey report an increase in the number of independent methamphetamine producers, OMGs remain active in methamphetamine production and distribution, controlling 14 percent of the methamphetamine produced in the Middle- Atlantic/Great Lakes region. Methamphetamine producers working for OMGs typically produce 5 to 10 pounds of methamphetamine per production cycle using the P2P method. The Lake County HIDTA reports that OMGs control a large portion of the methamphetamine produced in its area. A DEA Phoenix Field Division investigation led to the identification of a large-scale, OMG-related methamphetamine production operation in Phoenix and Indianapolis. The methamphetamine was produced in Arizona and shipped to Indianapolis for distribution throughout the Midwest. A 1999 OCDETF investigation uncovered an organization that produced and distributed methamphetamine in the Southern District of Indiana. Members of the organization obtained precursor chemicals from California and traded them for car and motorcycle parts. Transportation Mexican DTOs control most of the methamphetamine production laboratories throughout Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico and dominate methamphetamine transportation in Indiana and the Midwest. Most of the Indiana respondents to the 2000 National Drug Threat Survey report that Mexican DTOs are the primary methamphetamine transporters in their areas, including the Evansville Police and Allen County Sheriff s Departments, the latter of which identifies California and Texas as major methamphetamine source areas. The Indianapolis Police Department reports that Hispanic organizations are the predominant methamphetamine transporters in its jurisdiction. Three 1999 OCDETF investigations uncovered methamphetamine transportation organizations that shipped large quantities of methamphetamine from the Southwest Border to Indiana. 13